BMW X1 vs Audi Q3 vs Range Rover Evoque

The original BMW X1 was a bit of a disappointment, but how does this second-generation model stack up against the Audi Q3 and Range Rover Evoque?...

What Car? team

27 January 2016

What are they like inside?

Getting comfortable isn’t tricky in any of these SUVs, although taller drivers may wish the Audi Q3’s steering wheel dropped a little lower. Likewise, anyone tackling long journeys on a regular basis will bemoan the lack of adjustable lumbar support in both the BMW X1 and Range Rover Evoque, although this feature is available as an option.

The previous X1 was distinctly underwhelming inside. Thankfully, this new model has a much classier interior; all the surfaces you touch regularly are of high quality and the majority of buttons and switches feel solid. In fact, only a lightweight gearlever lets the side down.

The Q3’s interior isn’t as modern to look at, but it equals the X1 for outright quality, with just as many high-class materials on show. That said, the air-con controls are a weak point, because they’re fiddly to use.

For sheer style and drama, the Evoque’s interior leads the way, although some of the fixtures and fittings don’t feel quite as robust as they should.

If you’re looking for a practical family car the X1 will appeal most. It’s the only one of the trio available with sliding rear seats, which, for £195, help give far more rear knee room than is offered by the Q3 or Evoque. Our x1 test car had an optional (£945) panoramic glass roof fitted, and yet still matched its rivals for rear head room.

It’s a similar story in the boot, with the X1 best not only for outright size but also ease of use. All three load bays are similarly wide and tall, but the Evoque’s is shortest and the x1’s longest, even with its rear seats slid all the way back.

Folding the X1’s rear seats is a doddle; push a switch in the boot and they drop automatically, leaving a step-free extended load floor. Dropping the rear seats in the Q3 and Evoque requires pulling a lever next to the rear headrest from inside the cabin, before hauling the seat forward.